By Maria Zaccaro, Local Democracy Reporter

Updated Campaigners are asking a government minister to call in plans to expand the runway at Southampton Airport.

 

 

Airport campaign group AXO has written to the Secretary of State for Communities Robert Jenrick asking for the planning application to extend the runway at Southampton Airport to be called-in.

The proposals to extend the runway by 164m were given the go-ahead by Eastleigh Borough Council last week after being discussed for a total of almost 36 hours.

22 councillors vote in favour of the approval, 13 against and one abstained.

It followed a previous Eastleigh Local Area Committee meeting which rejected the plans.

Now AXO wants Robert Jenrick to call in the proposals.

The move could lead to a public inquiry, with the final decision made by the Secretary of State himself.

Member of AXO Lyn Brayshaw said: "There is a clear conflict between government policy in the Climate Change Act to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, and expansion of the airport which will result in hundreds of thousand tons a year of additional greenhouse gas emissions.

"In addition, serious noise impacts will extend well beyond the boundaries of Eastleigh Borough, with more residents in Southampton being seriously affected than in Eastleigh, and large numbers in Winchester as well. This caused both Councils to object to the application. Other applications have been called in for similar reasons, and we believe the Secretary of State should now do so in this case."

The news comes as plans to redevelop Leeds Bradford Airport has been  delayed to allow  Robert Jenrick more time for consideration. Plans for a new coal mine in Cumbria have also been called-in in the run up to the UK government hosting COP26, the next stage in the Paris Climate treaty negotiations in November where binding greenhouse gas cuts must be made to achieve targets.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: "The department has received a number of requests to call in this planning application which will be considered in the usual way. If called in, the application would be considered at a public inquiry. If not called in, it would be returned to the council to decide. Because of the quasi-judicial nature of the planning process it would be inappropriate to comment further."

According to government guidelines: "The Secretary of State will, in general, only consider the use of his call-in powers if planning issues of more than local importance are involved."

The government said such cases may include, for example, those which in the Secretary of State's opinion:

• may conflict with national policies on important matters;
• may have significant long-term impact on economic growth and meeting housing needs across a wider area than a single local authority;
• could have significant effects beyond their immediate locality;
• give rise to substantial cross-boundary or national controversy;
• raise significant architectural and urban design issues;
• or may involve the interests of national security or of foreign Governments.

"However, each case will continue to be considered on its individual merits," according to the guideline.

Steve Szalay, operations director at Southampton Airport, said: “After a fair and thorough process, where four rounds of public consultation led to a 60% majority of local and regional support for the airport, coupled with a total of 33 hours of committee time which allowed residents and business communities the opportunity to have their voice heard at both the ELAC and the Full Council, we disagree with the request to call this in for Ministerial scrutiny. The vast majority of Eastleigh councillors supported the application following the recommendation of their planning team.  This process involved extensive debate and questioning. There is no doubt the process has been fair, rigorous, robust and legally sound.  We are now frustrated that our objectors are delaying the opportunity for the airport to deliver over 250 jobs as part of the construction phase alone. We are resolutely committed to these runway extension plans and the 2500 jobs this protects and enables.”

Updated 12.30pm  with Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government comment and info on govt guidelines

Updated 7.10pm with comment from Southampton Airport